Passenger’s rights
My rights if I had a cancelled flight due to COVID-19
All ticket holders are entitled to a full cash refund. If you are offered a flight voucher that you do not wish to accept, you are under no obligation to take it. You can request a refund from the airline instead.
Companies like GIVT can offer professional help to get your money back legally. We have a success rate of 99% of cases won. Your chance of a cash refund is much better with the professionals.
Are disrupted charter flights, or low-cost airline flights eligible for compensation?
Yes, flight compensation may be due for both charter flights, and low-cost airline flights, provided that they meet the conditions stipulated in Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. These flights can be verified free of charge on GIVT’s flight checker: https://givt.com/en/
Is a missed connection eligible for compensation?
Yes, under certain conditions. Firstly, the connecting flight must be part of the same booking, and missing the connection must be the airline’s fault. This means that missing the connection must be as a result of the delay, or cancellation of the preceding flight. However, if the connecting flight is a separate booking, it is not eligible for compensation, irrespective of who was at fault. Such flights are treated as two separate flights.
What are “extraordinary circumstances”?
The definition of “extraordinary circumstances” is covered by 14 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. They are described as circumstances, or events that could not have been avoided, even if all reasonable measures had been taken. The EU list of extraordinary circumstances which exempt the carrier from compensation liability includes:
political instability in the flight country,
security risks,
air traffic controller (ground personnel) strikes.
More information can be found at: https://givt.com/en/blog/extraordinary-circumstances-as-reason-for-complaint-rejection-is-compensation-really-not-due/.
Can an airline provide gift coupons and/or ancillary services instead of compensation?
Airlines may offer passengers gift coupons, vouchers, cash, or extra bonus points. Acceptance of any these services may negate eligibility for flight compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. To ensure that your flight will still be eligible for compensation it is best not to accept, or sign for any settlements.
What does it mean that “the right to compensation for a disrupted flight has expired”?
The claim limitation period for disrupted flights is legally determined by an airline’s country of registration.
Can an airline reduce the amount of flight compensation?
Yes, airlines can reduce the amount of flight compensation. Airlines can reduce compensation by 50% if they offer alternate flights for cancelled flights which arrive at the destination by 2/3/4 hours later than scheduled arrival time, depending on the distance of the flight. More information can be found in our passenger’s rights section: https://givt.com/en/passengers-rights/cancelled-flight/.
What determines whether flight compensation is due or not?
Whether flight compensation is due or not depends on flight distance, amount of delay, cancellation notice time, and the reason for denied boarding. More information regarding compensation different types of disruptions can be found in the section about passenger’s rights: https://givt.com/en/passengers-rights/.
What determines the amount of compensation?
The amount of flight compensation depends on the flight distance:
- €250 – for flights up to 1,500 km,
- €400 – for all flights over 1,500 km within the EU, and for the remaining flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km,
- €600 – for all remaining flights over 3,500 km.
Can cancelled flight compensation be claimed from an airline that has declared bankruptcy?
Unfortunately, if an airline has declared bankruptcy, obtaining compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 is no longer possible, even if the passenger has already filed a complaint that is under consideration.
Compensation is possible if the flight was booked via a travel agency, and was part of a package. In this instance the travel agency is responsible for booking the flight; when a flight ticket is purchased from an airline by credit card, the passenger should be refunded. If possible payment may be cancelled before it reaches the airline, or in the case of bankruptcy reimbursement is also possible.
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